"There have been 75,000 cases of atrocities against women (in Assam) during the last ten years. Attacks against women have increased under the corrupt Congress government," she told a BJP workers rally in Assam's Nalbari district.

"Tarun Gogoi has downgraded the status of women in Assam. There is only goondagardi and no development," Irani, against whom derogatory comments were made by Congress MLA Nilomani Sendeka yesterday, said.

"I ask were the sacrifices of Kanaklata Barua, Mukunta Kakoti and other freedom fighters of Assam made for this," she said, adding that BJP would fight the Congress in the state Assembly polls and "ensure that lotus (BJP's symbol) will bloom in the state."

She exhorted the party workers to fight the 'ghamandi' (arrogant) Congress in the coming election for bringing about change. "Each of you pledge today to make Assam Congress-free and take it on the path of development."

Sendeka had made derogatory remark against Irani at a public meeting in Nalbari yesterday.

It sparked off demonstrations by BJP workers in front of the Congress headquarters in Guwahati today who demanded that Sendeka be handed over to them and immediately arrested. They also demanded that he be expelled from Congress. The unruly scenes forced police to burst tear gas shells.